Politics, Reconciliation, and Women… Oh my.
As I did a little research and started to read God’s Politics by Jim Wallis, I became a little upset because I knew I could not read most of the book. I loved the reviews and wondered, “How did I not know about this book.” Even the front cover reads, “Why the Right gets it wrong, and the Left doesn’t get it.” C’Mon Jim! Now that’s what I’m talking about. That’s how you deal with American politics.
The thesis of his book is found on page three, “The religious and political Right gets the public meaning of religion mostly wrong-preferring to focus only on sexual and cultural issues, while ignoring the weightier matters of justice. And the secular Left doesn’t seem to get the meaning and promise of faith for politics at all-mistakenly dismissing spirituality as irrelevant to social change.”1 For so long I have been wanting for both Republicans and Democrats to point out where their own party has limitations or is weak or maybe even wrong. This book does that. HALLELUIAH!
Wallis, a born-again Christian critiques the Religious Right for what he sees as a misuse of Christian principles for political gain. He argues that the Religious Right does not concern itself with issues of poverty, social justice, and the environment.2
He calls out the Left for ignoring people of faith who have really good solutions for social change. Another pivotal point is encouraging Christians to engage in politics not just from a partisan perspective but through the lens of faith and moral responsibility. I really like moral responsibility because Jesus said, “The poor you will always have with you.”3 With poverty comes many issues but it is hard to know those issues if we do not focus on the people who we will always have with us.
A good pivotal point is when Wallis emphasizes that Christian values should guide policy in a way that promotes the common good, addressing issues like economic inequality, war, and environmental stewardship.4 I like that phrase “common good” because this means everyone and it takes some emotionally maturity to care for everyone, which includes those with opposing viewpoints. I’ll have to actually read this book at a later date and I am looking forward to meeting Jim Wallis in D.C. My one question for him is based upon his futuristic comment, “More churches will throw their arms around at-risk kids, but it won’t be enough unless the whole society puts children first.”5 How can the Church work with society to place their arms around at-risk kids in order to bring healing to these beautiful kids?
DREAMING IN BLACK AND WHITE
As I started into Dreaming in Black and White by Brett Fuller, my first response was, “Noooooo, not another excellent book that I do not have time to read. Not again!” Yes, again, and I cannot wait to actually read it. I love under dog stories and Fuller’s victories over tough situations were quite inspiring. Overcoming racism is a complex and multifaceted challenge that impacts individuals, communities, and societies on various levels. It’s complex and multifaceted because of institutional barriers, economic disparities, implicit bias, and cultural stereotypes.
Fuller addresses and poses solutions to the ethnic tension that exist in America. He is working hard toward reconciliation. “Reconciliation means expensive change. It means sacrifice. It means extraordinary discomfort. We should know it. prepare for it and understand it all as the necessary price of God’s work on earth.”6 Fuller’s dream to erect a National Enslaved Americans Memorial in Washington D.C. “has been a long arduous journey,”7 but he believes it will bring reconciliation and healing to our nation. I agree because it will acknowledge, thank, remember, and memorialize the millions of men and women created in the image of God who endured such unspeakable tragedy. This leads me to my two questions for Pastor Fuller:
- What can we students do to help support and promote this dream?
- What are the specific reasons this dream has been so hard?
HIGH CEILINGS
In a world where women have been second rate since time began, it is a blessing to see in the past few decades how this is changing. In High Ceilings: Women in Leadership, Brett E Fuller added his “perspective of Scripture to the corporate ideological discussion and thereby enhance the wealth of knowledge”8 in the area of women in ministry. The book emphasizes the importance of empowering women and increasing representation in leadership positions in the church.
It was new to me to learn his accurate interpretation of I Timothy 3:2, “the overseer then must be above reproach, the husband of one wife…”9 Fuller brought out that “Paul, unmarried, the finest church governor who has ever lived, was the one who is writing this to Timothy.”10 Fuller believes Paul was trying to prohibit a polygamist from holding office and “he did not intend to imply that an elder had to be a man.”11 With all this in mind, my two questions for Navy Seal Fuller are:
- Have you lost friends/colleagues over your high view of women in the Church?
- What has been the benefit of having men and women in leadership in your church instead of just having men in leadership?
- God’s Politics, Jim Wallis. 3.
- Ibid. 3.
- Matthew 26:11. New International Version.
- God’s Politics, Jim Wallis. 210.
- Ibid. 369.
- Dreaming in Black and White, Brett Fuller. 124.
- Ibid. 76.
- High Ceilings: Women in Leadership, Brett E Fuller. 1.
- I Timothy 3:2. King James Version.
- High Ceilings: Women in Leadership, Brett E Fuller. 39.
- Ibid.
About the Author
Todd E Henley
Todd is an avid cyclist who loves watching NASCAR, photography, and playing Madden football. He is addicted to reading, eating fruits and vegetables, and drinking H2O. His passion is talking about trauma, epigenetics, chromosomes, and the brain. He has been blessed with a sensationally sweet wife and four fun creative children (one of which resides in heaven). In his free time he teaches at Fresno Pacific Biblical Seminary and is the Founder/Executive Director of Restore Counseling Center.8 responses to “Politics, Reconciliation, and Women… Oh my.”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Great reflections on these two authors. The bit that jumped out at me was your comment on Fuller’s interpretation of I Timothy 3:2. I remember reading something similar in a book by Lucy Peppiatt, and it was eye-opening. If you’re interested in another book (that you may not have time to read!) the title is Rediscovering Scripture’s Vision for Women, and it is excellent.
Hey Kim. Thank you for that recommendation. I will place it on my reading list of books “I don’t have time to read.” 🤣
And I really like the title. See ya soon.
Always love reading your posts Todd, I can actually hear the inflections of your voice as I’m reading! lol Love it.
I’m looking forward to meeting these guys in person and hearing where they are with their views now years later. I always wonder if and why people shift on anything after doing more life. I’m especially curious about this in Brett Fuller’s biblical views on women from the High Ceilings book. Looking forward to seeing you man!
Hey Adam, good thought about wondering why people shift after doing more life. I’m also wondering how much pain in life, difficulties in life, or struggling in life make a difference, if at all. looking forward to seeing you too, man.
Hi Todd!
Thank you for your exciting post. You have shown the pivotal thesis of each book very well. I would like to know more about what you think about reconciliation if you don’t mind. You wrote, “I agree because it will acknowledge, thank, remember, and memorialize the millions of men and women created in the image of God who endured such unspeakable tragedy.” What is the primary and most important condition for reconciliation to be truly realized and maintained firmly?
I look forward to seeing you in DC. Blessings.
Hey Dinka. Thank you for such a tough question. I’m not sure what is the primary or most important condition for reconciliation but here are two things that are helpful:
1. When in conflict with others keep in mind, conflict doesn’t have to be your enemy when serving Jesus is your goal.
2. Work hard to give others the benefit of the doubt especially when you don’t know the real reason for their motives.
3. Give grace and listen to people’s side, while listening to their heart and pain.
4. Make the relationship more important than the problem (From RARE Leadership)
See ya in DC my friend.
Todd, great question: What are the specific reasons this dream has been so hard?
I love the dream, but sometimes wonder why we hit a wall…beyond not always getting it right from my end.
Hopefully you’ll be able to ask your quesiton.
Safe travels.
Hey my brother, your thoughts really got me thinking because our dreams tend to be passion areas, so what does it mean when we don’t get it right? Just something I’m pondering. See ya soon, Sir Tim.